Auxiliary wheel for motor vehicles



Dec. 26, 1950 E.' CRAIG AOXILIARY Wl-lEEL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 3, 1948 Dec. 26, 1950 E. CRAIG AUXILIARY WHEEL FOR MOTOR. VEHICLES Filed May 3, l

2 Sheets-5119952 7D WARD CRA G Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES 2,535,567-

AUXILIARY WHEEL FOR -Moroliv'linhnnfs Eiilward Craig, Brea,-Galif` AppucationMays, 1948,1seriariv'oif24;811

15 Claims. l

This invention is concerned withV an auxiliary wheel for motor vehicles, it being a general' objectfof the invention to provide asimple, effective, easily operated device serving to lift a vehicle and carry it when a tre thereof is flat.

The usual motor vehicle is equipped withy pneumatic tires and when a tire goes fiat it ist` generally most inconvenient and disagreeable to jack' up thevehicle and change the=tire.

This inventon is` concerned with the general type of device-which is set forth in my cepending applications Serial No. 642,271, filed-January 19, 1946,1now Patent Number 2,483,574,.issued October e, 1949, entitled Auxiliary Wheel'for Motor Vehicles or the Like, and Serial No. 654,749, Vfiled March l5, 1946, now Patent Number 2,466,794, issued April 12, 1949,` entitled Vehicle Support, being a device applicable to la wheel having a flat tireV and operating toliftthe wheel to a normal or operating position and carryit in thatposition until a point of repair can be reached.

`In a device of the type referred to it is advantageous that the auxiliary wheel be-as close-as` possible v'to the outer s'cle` of thevehicle Wheel while operatingrto carry the vehicle.. Inpractice,- however, when a tire is flat and the'vehicle wheel is lowered, under which condition theauxiliary wheel is applied, the tire bulgesasubstantial distance from the side of the vehicle 'wheel and therefore the ground engaging portion of the auxiliary wheel must initially engage the ground at a point considerably removed from the side of the vehicle wheel. This condition is becoming more serious since there isa deiinite trend toward the use of larger motor vehicle tires.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary wheel structure initially applied" to a vehic'e'wheel to engagethe ground outward of a lattirei on the vehicle wheel and which operates to assume a final operating position immediately adjacent the outer side of the vehicle Wheel.

A` further object of the present Vinventionfis to provide a device of' the character referred to' that involves but two main'sections,'both of which aresimple and inexpensive in form and construction, and which operate relative toeach other to lift thewheel when the vehicle is first operated `*following application of" the device thereto. l

It is a further object of the present invention to" provide a` structure ci thefgeneral character referred to in which the main sectionsv are coupled so that thedeviceforms a' complete assemposition. Aflig, Srisia View srnilartoFigs. liar-id 2 ,1" showingl tliestrd'ctlirefully operated or *neondition to supportl iielvel'iicle` wheel--inra` substan- 3 Fig. 15 is a View taken on line I5-I5 in Fig. 11.

The device of the present invention is in the nature of an attachment applicable to the rim of a motor vehicle, and in the drawings it is shown applied to a typical motor vehicle construction wherein the vehicle V has a hub I supported from an axle Il and carrying a wheel I2 with a rim I3 supporting a pneumatic tire I4. In Figs. l and 4 of the drawings the tire is shown flat or deiiated, in which case the Wheel I2 has lowered and the tire bulged at the ground to project a substantial distance from either side of the wheel. of the vehicle is shown lifted so that the deated tires assumes a substantially normal form or cross sectional coniiguration at the ground and is not pinched between the vehicle wheel and the ground.

The structure provided by the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, involves, generally, two main sections, one a hub section A, the other a wheel section B, mounting means C securing the hub section to the hub I0 of the vehicle and coupling means D joining the sections A and B for operation between an initial or eccentric position where theA wheel section engages the ground beside the flat tire, as shown in Fig. 4, and a final operating or concentric position where the wheel section is concentric with the vehicle wheel and is immediately adjacent thereto as shown in Fig. 5.

The hub section A of the vdevice may vary widely in form and construction. The preferred form of hub section illustrated in the drawings involves a simple tubular or cylindrical element forming the hub section. The tubular hub sec- -tion A is shown about the same size or diameter -as the hub Iii of the vehicle and is secured to the hub IIJ through the mounting means C so "that it is concentric therewith and projects from vthe outer side thereof. The hub section A is of -suiiicient length or extent axially to support the wheel section B of the device in the desired position relative to thejvehicle wheel, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.`

IThe-mounting means C provided for vhandling lthe'hub section or for securing it to the wheel I 2 "orlhubvl of the wheel may vary in accordance 'l-with details or features of construction employed in the hub I U or the mounting of the wheel I2 on the hub Ii). In the particular case illustrated the hub I0 is provided at its outer side or face v`vwith a plurality of studs I5 which extend through `'openings I5 in the flange I'Iof wheel I2. In the particular case illustrated the outer face of the hub is recessed at I8 around each stud I5 and L,the ange il is cupped at i9 around each opening I6, so that the cupped portions engage in the recesses I8 in the manner common to motor vehicle construction.

When the present invention is applied to a con- Ventional motor vehicle construction such as shown in the drawings, the mounting means C may include a plurality of .lugs 2l] at the inner -lugs circumferentially spaced, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Each lug 25 is protided with an opening 2i passing a stud I5 and the lug is cupped at 22 surrounding the opening 2l to engage in the cupped portion of the wheel ange where it may be clamped by a suitable clamp nut In Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the deflated wheel 23 applied to the stud.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the mounting means C is such as to secure the hub section A to the hub i@ of the vehicle to be concentric therewith and to project outwardly from the outer side thereof and it will be apparent that the hub section may be attached to the hub by merely removing three clamp nuts 23 in order that the lugs 2t* of the mounting means may be engaged under them.

The wheel section B preferably7 involves a simple flat plate 33 with a round periphery having a rim that carries a tire 3l. In the Vcase illustrated the tire carrying rim of the wheel is formed by a pair of anges 32 one of which is formed directly on the periphery of the plate while th-e other is on a ringr 33 which is secured to the plate. In practice the tire 3i employed on the wheel section may vary in form or type, it being preferred in most cases to employ a hard rubber tire which may be substantially round in cross section and which has an outside diameter substantially the same as that of the vehicle tire I4 for which it substitutes in the case of an emergency.

The coupling means D joins the sections A and B so that they are shiitable between the initial or eccentric position where the lower portion of the wheel section is far enough removed from the tire of the wheel to engage the ground clear of the fiat tire, as shown in Fig. 4, and an operating position where the wheel section is concentric with the vehicle wheel and is located immediately adjacent the vehicle tire as shown in Fig. 5.

The coupling means involves, generally, cooperating parts on the sections A and B having sliding engagement so that the wheel section moves diametrically of the hub section and may tilt relative thereto. The cooperating parts, as shown in the drawings, may involve hub iianges 4Q projecting from the hub section and wheel flanges 4I projecting from the wheel section. The coupling means D involves connecting means joining the flanges d@ and 5I, which connecting means preferably includes connecting pins 42 operating in slots iid. 'The coupling means further involves latch means i5 engaged when the wheel section reaches a position concentric with the vehicle wheel to releasably hold the wheel section in that position as the wheel section supports the vehicle wheel and rolls along the ground holding the vehicle wheel supported.

`The hub nanges Ll may vary considerably in form, arrangement and construction, it being preferred that there be two spaced parallel flanges it and that they ice carried on or by the outer end of the hub section A to project outwardly therefrom and to extend parallel with an axis extending diametricaliy through the central longitudinal axis of the hub. In the case illustrated an end plate 5t is mounted on or carried by the outer end of the hub A and the iianges 40 are formed on or project from the plate 50, as shown throughout the drawings. It is preferred that the plates be spaced apart or that they be arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the central axis of the hub so that they are substantially tangential to the periphery of the hub section, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Through this construction the plate 50 that carries the flanges iii projects radially outward from the outer` end of the hub section, leaving the interior of the hub section open and unobstructed so` that the. mounting lmeansCcan beconvenient- 1y reached from the` outer side `of .the device.

The wheel'nangeslllare formed onor project from. the platetloi the wheelsectionand the preferred arrangement they` i project from the outer side of the wheelplate. The wheel: flanges are parallelwith each other and extend parallel with an axis that extends diametrically through the center of the wheel section and they areso spaced as to have sliding engagement with the hub anges. In the` arrangement illustrated the hubffianges it are confined between the `wheel flanges, inv which case the outer sides or faces oi the hub flanges'slidably engage theinner sides or facesoi the Wheel flanges.

vThe 'connectingpins i2 provided to connect the flanges Mi `andi 4i serve toconnect the flanges so that the Wheel section is allowed free movement relative to the hub section between a position such as isshown in Fig. 4, and that shown inFig.` 5. In the preferred arrangement there are two connecting pinsi42 carried by each hub llange llt. the pins being located at the end portions of the flanges to project from the inner sides of the flanges so that they engage in open- 5 5 ings it inthe wheel flanges. The openings 4t in the wheel iianges` are in theform or nature of slots, in fact, they are cam slotsshaped and proportioned tc act with the pins to shift or rock thevvheel section from a tilted position such as y;

is shown in Fig. 4 to a vertical position such as is shown in Fig. 5, as the wheel section moves fronithe eccentric position to the concentric position. It will be apparent from a consideration of Fiese `and 5 of the drawings that the -Q slots d4 which accommodate the pinsAZ, uppermost when the structure is positioned as shown in Fig. 4, are shaped or inclineddiferently from the slots which are` lowermost when the structure` is thus, positioned, with the result that the desired tilting or angular correction of the wheel section occurs as the wheel section is moved from the eccentric to the concentric position.

In the form of the invention under consid.- eration the: pins 42 serve to permanently join or connect the flanges Il and -1l`so that the hub and wheel sections are connected together as a unitary assembly. Inthis case` each pin 42 is provided at oneend with a head 5ta and carriesfa retaining washer 5l which is held by lockpin 52. The flanges engaged by the pin are confined between the head Ell. and washer 5| as shown in Fig. 9.

In practice it is preferred that the pin and slot construction above described be` loose or :free so that the wheel section moves freely relative to the hub section in operating between the position shown in Fig. 4 and that shown in Fig. 5. In the construction shown in the drawings `the slots `fili are considerably larger than the pins that operate in them, except at the end portions 55 which receive the pins when the structurels in operating position, `as shown in Fig. 5. The end portions 55 are such as to snugly receive the pins in `order to hold the sections A and B in operating` position Without allowing unnecessary play or freedom of movement between them as the device rolls on thesground.

The latch means l5 serves to releasably retain the sections A and B in the position shown in Ffig. 5. In the case illustrated in the drawings the latch means` involves a latch member 6l! slidably carried in guidel on one of the flanges. The latch'lll is urged by a spring 62 to enter an opening t3 in an adjoining ilange when the` parts reach: the .position showinin; Fig'. #Inlthe constuction` lshoivn .ini lig.` 10 the" llatchi guide B housesithe spring t2! anat aLstemtEBtprojectsl from the. latch `and carries` anfoperating knobll .rconvenientlyJaccessiblefso uthat-the latch can #be withdrawn from the .opening :163. to l free @the flanges so'` thatthe structure maybe movedf` from the position. shown in. Fig. 5.

lnltheiorm of the inventionillustrated Ain Figs.` 111 to i5, inclusive, l the u' Wheel'section "B'r Vfis separable from the. hub `section A,Jenablingithe operator tom apply the. l'rubir section A i tof-the A.hub it `.el the `vehicle before the `wheel 'section is attachedto thelhub section. `Various constructions may belemployedto Vfacilitate separation of .thelsections A and B. In `the case` illustrated:` in the drawingsthe anges iilof! theih'ub sectionsare. releasably coupledfl to thev flangesV lll ofthe-wheel` section by nxedpins fi-' onl thehub iianges which operate in 1`s1ot-like openings 44 inthe' wheel iianges, whichvopenings havee'xtensions 'is' forming entrancechannels through which the pins L32" cani be moved. intofandout of` operating position in the-openings 44.

When this construction. is employed it is-de sirable tolprovide closures .for the openingstl'flll sothat the pins 42 Amay be releasably retained inthe openings tt' upon the sections A' andiB' being assembled ready for operation, asshown in iFig.` l2 of` the drawings. Inthecase. illustrated a hinged closure 'il isprovidedin connection withicneor'more of' the openings Ml. and serves to releasably close the end oi the Vopeningat which the extensionl'f occurs.

In the form of the invention shown inflige. lli` toi 1.4 the latch means `45 is` somewhatldiiferent than that above described. In this case the latch means involves a; pivotedlatclr 60 normallyheld` by a spring S2 in such positionlas to engageand hold a connecting pin 42? at the endof the-'cam opening 44 when the wheel section has Ibeen moved tothe operating positiomi as shown in Eig. 13. It will `be apparent from` Fig. 13 how the latch Si!" may be arranged' andproportioned so that it is depressed as the pin 42' movestothe end of opening All', andit` will lee-apparent how the latch caribe readily releasedror disengaged from the pin when it is desired to'.releasethesecu tigons from operatingpositiom.as-shown in Fig. 1

Having described only typicalpreferred.forms and applications: of myiinvention, I do not wish tobe limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish'toreserve to myself any variations or modifications' that may' appear to thosefskilled in the art and fall withinthe scope of the followingclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

V1. An attachment for a` vehicle Wheel carrying a tire includingVahub sectioma Wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concern trically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between thesections joining the sections for limited movementfoflthe wheeltsection relative to the hub section diametrica-lly-.of theiwheel and also axially thereof includinga flange on the` hub section extending parallel with a diametric axis ofthe hub and parallel withthe axis of the wheel, a flange onlthe-Wheelsection slidably engaged with the liange ofthe-hub sec tionand extending parallel therewith and shiftable transversely of the wheel andtalso axially thereof,Y and` a. member on-one flangeoperating inta cam slotlin theother flange, which-camslot extends 1 axially-and'- transverselyrof the wheel.

2. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametrically of the wheel and axially thereof including, a ilange on the hub section extending parallel with a diametric axis of the hub, a iiange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the ange of the hub section and extending parallel therewith, and a member on one flange operating in a slot in the other flange extending longitudinally of the anges and also axially of the wheel.

3. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametrically of the Wheel and axially thereof including, a ilange on the hub section extending parallel with a diametric axis of the hub, a flange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the flange of the hub section and extending parallel therewith, and members on one ange spaced apart longitudinally of that ange and operating in cam slots in the other ange, the cam slots extending longitudinally of said other ange and also axially of lthe Wheel so that as the wheel section moves from a position eccentric to the wheel it shifts axially of the wheel to a position adjacent the wheel.

4. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametricaly of the wheel and also axially thereof including, a ange on the hub section, a flange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the flange on the hub sectionto move axially and radially of the wheel, and spaced members on one nange engaged in spaced cam slots in the other ange Iand coupling the sections against separation one of the slots being of greater extent than the other axially of the wheel.

' 5. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and

coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametrically of the wheel and axially thereof including, a flange on the hub section, a flange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the flange on the hubl section to move axially and radially of the wheel, and spaced members on one nange engaged in differently pitched cam slots in the other ange, the said members being removable from the slots to free the sections from each other and operating in the slots to tilt the wheel section as it is moved diametrically of the hub section.

6. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametrically of the wheel and axially thereof including, a flange on the hub section, a flange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the flange on the hub section for movement axially and aso diametrically of the wheel section, and a member on one ilange engaged in a cam slot in the other flange, the slot extending axially and also transversely of the wheel section and being open at one end to pass the said member into and out of the slot.

7. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections joining the sections for limited movement of the wheel section relative to the hub section diametrically of the wheel and axially thereof including, a flange on the hub section, a flange on the wheel section slidably engaged with the flange on the hub section for movement axially and also diametrically of the wheel section, a member on one flange engaged in a cam slotain the other ange extending across and also axially of the wheel section, and a latch releasably retaining the said member in the slot.

8. An attachment for a vehicle wheel mounted on a hub and carrying a tire including, a tubular hub section, lugs projecting inwardly at one end oi the hub section mounting the hub section on the hub concentric therewith to project outwardly therefrom, a wheel section having a round center plate and a tire thereon, spaced parallel elongate hub section flanges projecting from the outer end of the hub section in planes parallel with the axis of the hub section and extending parallel with an axis diametric of the hub Section, spaced parallel elongate wheel section flanges projecting from the inner side of the plate and slidably engaged with the hub section anges, pins projecting from the end portions of the hub secti flanges into cam slots in the wheel section flanges, the slots extending longitudinally of the iianges and also axially of the wheel section, and a latch releasably coupling the sections against relative movement upon being moved to positions where they are concentric.

9. An attachment for a vehicle wheel mounted on a hub and carrying a tire including, a tubular hub section, lugs projecting inwardly at one end of the hub section mounting the hub section on the hub concentric therewith to project outwardly therefrom, a wheel section having a round center plate and a tire thereon, spaced parallel elongate hub section flan es projecting from the outer end of the hub section in planes parallel with the axis of the hub section and extending parallel with an axis diametric of the hub section, spaced parallel elongate wheel section flanges projecting from the inner side of the plate and slidaoly engaged with the hub section anges, pins projecting from the end portions of the hub section anges into cam slots in the wheel section llanges, the slots extending longitudinally of the fianges and also axialli7 of the wheel section, and a latch releasably coupling the sections against relative movement upon be ing moved to positions where they are concentric, the pins permanently connecting the sec tions together.

1G. An attachment for a vehicle wheel mounted on a hub and carrying a tire including, a tubular hub section, lugs projecting inwardly at one end of the hub section mounting the hub section on the hub concentric therewith to project outwardflanges, pins projecting from the end portions of the hub section 'flanges into cam slots in the Wheel section flanges, the slots extending longitudinally of the flanges and also axially of the Wheel section, a latch releasably coupling the sections against relative movement upon being i moved to positions Where they are concentric, each slot being open at one end, and a releasable closure at the open end of each slot.

1l. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections including engaged members, one on each section, and

means on one of said members extending axially and diametrically of the wheel and rocking the Wheel section axially from a tilted position where it is inclined to a plane parallel with that of the wheel to a working position in a plane parallel with that of the wheel upon movement of the sections relative to each other diametrically of the wheel.

12. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections including, engaged parallel elongate members, one on each section and extending diametrically of the sections and also axially of the Wheel, and means on one of said members extending axially and diarnetrically of the Wheel and rocking the wheel section axially from a tilted position where it is inclined to a plane parallel with that of the Wheel to a working position in a plane parallel -f with that of the wheel upon movement of the sections relative to each other diametrically of the wheel.

13. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a Wheel secaxially and diametrically of the sections and rocking the sections axially from a tilted position where they are inclined to a plane parallel with that of the Wheel to a working position in a plane parallel with that of the Wheel upon movement of the sections relative to each other diametrically of the wheel.

14. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a hub section, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the wheel, and coupling means between the sections including, spaced parallel iianges on the hub section disposed in planes parallel with the axis of the wheel, spaced parallel flanges cn the wheel section slidably engaging the anges on the hub section to move axially and also radially of the wheel, cam parts on the flanges of one section and extending axially of the wheel, and pins on the flanges of the other section engaging the cam parts, the cam parts and pins cooperating to move the wheel section from a tilted position inclined relative to the wheel to a Working position parallel with the Wheel when it is operated transversely of the hub section.

15. An attachment for a vehicle wheel carrying a tire including, a tubular hub section with wheel engaging means at one end, a wheel section, mounting means securing the hub section concentrically at the outer side of the Wheel, and coupling means between the sections including spaced parallel flanges on the other end of the hub section disposed in planes parallel with the axis of the wheel, spaced parallel iianges on the Wheel section slidably engaging the flanges on the hub section to move axially and also radially of the wheel, cam parts on the flanges of one section and extending axially of the wheel, and pins on the flanges of the other section engaging the cam parts, the cam parts and pins cooperating to move the wheel section from a tilted position inclined relative to the Wheel to a working position parallel with the wheel when it is operated transversely of the hub section.

EDWARD CRAIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name lDate 1,846,448 Nelson Feb. 23, 1932 1,950,998 Quinn Mar. 13, 1934 2,466,794 Craig Apr. 12, 1949 

